Ball-bearing for scientific instruments



Jan. 21, 1936.

H. HEINE 2,028,718

BALL BEARING FOR SCIENTIFIC INSTRUMENTS.

Filed July 2, 19 32 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR lq'rin-Lnfl A/na Jan. 21,193

BALL BEARING FOR scmmmc xus'rkumms Filed July 2; 1952 2 Sheets-Sheet 2'mv NTOR .H y 112 2. 7711 cine,

- Milw- ATTORNEY Patenteel Jan. 21, 1936 UNITED STATES spasms,BAIL-BEARING ron solemn-1c msrauumvrs Hermann Reine, Wetslar, rmany,

Ernst Leitx, Opflsclns ,Werke.

aseignor to Wetslar. Ger- Application July 2, 1m. sum No. crass:

In Germany my a. 1m

lOlaim. (cl. sea-s) This invention relates to improvements inballparticularly ball-bearings used with optical. phvsical and similarinstruments of a scientiflc nature, and it is the principal object of myinvention to provide a ball-bearing of an extremely simple and thereforeinexpensive construction, yet durable and highly eflicient in operation.

Another object of my invention is the provision to form a dust proofbearing.

In the manufacture of the ball-bearingsnowinuseitiscustomarytocutintoabodyofhard material a V-shaped rill orgroove or rounded channel corresponding to the rounded form of the ball,or such a grooved hard metal body is engaged with a bodyof soft metal.This construction requires an exact fitting of the grooves to the ballsrequiring an accurate work which necessarily made ings expensive. Inorder to avoid these disadvantages, I have constructed a simple andinexpensive ball-bearing by providing a smooth surface of-soft or hardmaterial with two incisions distanced from one another for about thethickness of the balls,

an extent only as-to allow a bsll expansion, thus it will not benecessary to comtruct'an accurately worked bearing and consequently theconstruction of such a hearing will be very inexpensive. I The springbands made of hard material can readilyupperedgesofthebandsengagedbytheballs 40 may be suitably beveled.

These and other objects and advantages of my invention will become morefully apparent as the description thereof proceeds, and will then bespecifically pointed out in the appended claim. 5 lntheaccompnyingdrawingsformingamaterial part of this disclosure:

Fig.1isap1anviewofaball-bearing structed according to my invention.

Fig. 2 is an end view thereof. I Fig. 3 is a front elevation of anoptical instrument equipped with ball according to my invention.

Fig.4isasideelevationthereof,and' Fig. 5 is atop end view of theinstrument. Asillustratedinngin-es 1and2,apiate I of suitable materialhas formed therewith a centralof a ball-bearing the ball races of whichare formed by elastic, yielding steel bands or springs the manufactureof baii-bear-- be constructed, and the conbearingsconstructed depressionin which is guided a displaceable carriage2 onballbearings constructedaccordingto my invention. The side walls of the depression and of thecarriage are provided with longitudinally extending incisions or slitsin which the 5 spring bands 3, preferably steel springs are 10- eatedbetween which the balls 4 are guided in their cages I.

AsillustratedinFigures3, 4and5,inanoptical'instrument having a verticalpost I a car- 10 riage 2' is verticallydisplaceable .between guides I bymeans of a rack II engaged by a pinion or gear Iadaptedtobeoperatedbyaknob lion its shaft adapted to be clamped inposition by means of the clamping device I. The inner walls of guides Iand the outer carriage walls are'provided with incisions for thereception of the spring bands I8, for the balls I in their cages. Ahoriaontally dispoad carrlage I is displaceabie between guides I and the20 walls of the same are provided with incisions for the reception ofthe steel bands 2|, 22 for the balls "in their cages, the carriage to beclamped in position bymeans of the clamping device l.- g5

'Inusethesideedgesof thecarriagesand guides are provided with incisionsof the proper length for the reception of the spring steel bands and theballs are'suided between the same in their cages.

It will be understood that I have described and shown the preferredforms of my invention as a few examples only of the many possible waysto practically construct the same, and that I may make such changes inthe constructional arrangement and in the construction of the minordetails as come within the scope of the appended claims withoutdeparture from the spirit of my invention and the principles involved.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desiretosecure by Letters Patent is:

In a ball bearing for optical, P 38 081 or like instruments a platehaving formed therewith a central depression, and its side*walls'provided with longitudinally extending incisions or slots,

a displaceable carriage guided in said depression and having its sidewalls also provided withiongitudinally extending incisions or slots, twosubstantially similar narrow strips of flexible, resistingspringsteel,thefreeedgesofsaidstrips constituting the guide tracks for the balls andthe opposite edges of said strips held in said incisions, to form ayielding ball bearing to accommodate balls of varying sizes.

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